JPH09277896A - Air-bag module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air-bag module which can dispense with a troublesome positioning at the fixing time of an air-bag cover, prevent the crack and damage of the installation hole of the air-bag cover at the air-bag expansion time and burst a burst prearranged thin part properly. SOLUTION: The movement for the retainer 4 of a cover 5 is allowed by mutually tightening and fixing the cover installation hole 4e formed on the front/rear opening end edges 4c, 4d of the retainer 4 and a retainer installation hole 5e formed in a large diameter on the front/rear wall part 5b of the air-bag cover 5 by a bolt 8 having a longer large diameter part 8b than the sum of thickness of the end edges 4c, 4d and wall part 5b. Therefore, a precise positioning is dispensed at the fixing time of the cover 5 and the work efficiency is increased. The hook shape part 9b of a stuck plate material 9 is locked to the locking hole 5f of the cover 5 and the expansion pressure of the air-bag 2 acting on the retainer installation hole 5e is dispersed to the locking hole 5f and the crack of the installation hole 5e is prevented and proper and quick burst in the burst prearranged thin part 5d of the cover 5 is secured.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air bag module installed in, for example, an instrument panel of an automobile, and more specifically, when an error occurs in a fixed position when a retainer of the air bag module is fixed to a vehicle body. Also, the present invention relates to an airbag module having a fixing structure capable of absorbing the same error and fixing the airbag cover of the airbag module to the instrument panel and the retainer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a vehicle is subjected to a severe impact, a high-pressure gas is generated from an internal inflator, and the airbag module inflates the airbag to support and protect an occupant. Therefore, the installation location of the airbag module includes the center of the steering wheel in front of the driver's seat, the instrument panel in front of the passenger seat, the front seat in front of the rear seat, or the door panel. For example, when installing an airbag module in the instrument panel in front of the passenger seat, an opening for installing the airbag module is formed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the instrument panel, and the airbag is installed in the opening. The module is housed and fixed to the vehicle body, and the opening is closed by the airbag cover of the airbag module which is deployed when the airbag is inflated.

Generally, in the airbag module, after a retainer for accommodating an airbag, an inflator and the like is fixed to a vehicle body by a bolt through a bracket existing in an opening of the instrument panel, the retainer is removed from the back surface of the airbag cover. The projecting front windshield side (hereinafter referred to as front) and occupant side (hereinafter referred to as rear) wall portions are fixed to the front and rear opening ends of the retainer with bolts and the like, and the airbag cover The peripheral edge is attached to the peripheral edge of the opening and installed on the vehicle body. However, when the retainer is fixed at a predetermined position in the opening and a slight error occurs, the airbag cover cannot be fixed to both the retainer and the peripheral edge of the opening. Therefore, conventionally, a bolt insertion hole formed in the airbag cover or the retainer is formed in a long hole so as to have a range in a fixing position of the airbag cover to the retainer, and a fixing structure capable of absorbing the error is adopted. It was

However, in the above-mentioned fixing structure, the airbag cover must be precisely positioned so that it can be fixed to both the instrument panel and the retainer at a plurality of fixing portions, and the work is complicated and the work efficiency is poor. .

Therefore, for example, in the airbag module disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-108891, the lower protrusion protruding below the rear side of the airbag cover and the lower bracket of the retainer are arranged as described above. In addition to fixing with a conventional fixing structure that is fixed with a bolt through a long hole,
An upper protrusion protruding upward from the front side of the airbag cover and an upper bracket of the retainer are connected and fixed to each other with a play provided through a flexible member such as a webbing belt. According to the fixing structure that is connected via the flexible member, the above-mentioned complicated positioning is not necessary at the time of the fixing work, and the work efficiency is improved.

[0006]

However, while the airbag module disclosed in the above publication is fixed to the retainer with play on the front upper portion of the airbag cover via the webbing belt, Since the lower portion of the rear side of the cover is fixed by bolts without play, when the airbag starts to inflate, its inflating force uses the fixing portion of the cover at the lower rear side of the cover as a supporting portion until the webbing belt is fully extended. The air bag cover may be entirely deformed and may not work effectively on the thin wall portion of the air bag cover to be torn, which may delay the tearing of the thin portion. Further, since the conventional fixing structure in which the fixing portion is fixed by the bolt through the above-mentioned long hole is still used in part of the fixing portion, complicated positioning is required.

Therefore, if the fixing structure in which all the fixing portions are connected via the above-mentioned webbing belt is adopted, the work efficiency for fixing is improved, but the airbag cover and the retainer are directly fixed. Therefore, the stability of mounting the airbag cover to the retainer deteriorates. Therefore, a stronger and more complicated fastening structure must be adopted as the fastening part structure of the airbag cover to the instrument panel.

When the air bag module is operated, the air bag is rapidly inflated and at the same time, the air bag cover is pressed to tear and deploy the air bag cover along the thin portion to be torn. At this time, the pressing force also acts on the fixing portion of the airbag cover with the retainer, and the bolt of the fixing portion may cause cracks or damage at the bolt insertion hole portion of the airbag cover. Even if the vehicle does not jump out of the opening of the instrument panel, there is a possibility that the timing of the tearing in the thin portion to be torn may be shifted and the airbag may not be effectively inflated.

A first object of the present invention is to automatically absorb the error when fixing the airbag cover to the retainer even if an error occurs in attaching the retainer to the vehicle body, and to prevent air from being stuck during the fixing work. No need for complicated positioning for both the instrument panel and the retainer of the bag cover, and at the same time, for the inflation force of the airbag at the time of deployment of the airbag cover to effectively act on the thin wall portion of the airbag cover to be torn. Providing a fixed structure. A second object is to prevent the inflating force of the airbag from locally concentrating at the bolt insertion portion of the airbag cover, and prevent a crack or damage in the bolt insertion portion of the airbag cover. It is to provide an insertion structure.

[0010]

The above object is to accommodate the airbag and the inflator, which are the main components of the present invention, and to open the ends of the opening on the front windshield side (front side) and the occupant side (rear side). A retainer having a plurality of cover mounting holes in the portion, and an airbag cover having a plurality of retainer mounting holes at positions corresponding to the cover mounting holes in the wall portion on the front windshield side and the occupant side protruding from the back surface. An airbag module having the retainer and the airbag cover, wherein the retainer and the airbag cover are fastened together by inserting a fixing tool into the cover mounting hole and the retainer mounting hole, and the mounting hole formed in the retainer and the airbag cover. At least one of them is formed to have a diameter larger than the diameter of the insertion portion of the fastener, and the fastening by the fastener is performed by the cover. Is achieved by an airbag module, characterized in that it is made in permit relative movement between said retainer.

The airbag module described above is housed inside an opening formed in the upper surface of the instrument panel and installed on the vehicle body. The airbag module has a structure in which the retainer, which accommodates an airbag, an inflator, etc., is fixed to a vehicle body by a bolt through a bracket existing in an opening of the instrument panel, and then is protruded from a back surface of the airbag cover. The retainer mounting holes of the front and rear wall portions and the cover mounting holes formed at the front and rear opening ends of the retainer are fixedly fastened by inserting fasteners, and the peripheral edge of the airbag cover is opened. It is attached to the periphery and installed on the vehicle body.

At least one of the mounting holes formed in the retainer and the airbag cover is formed to have a diameter larger than the diameter of the insertion portion of the fixing tool so that the fixing position has a range. Even if there is a mounting error with respect to the main body, the error is automatically absorbed when the airbag cover is fixed to the retainer, and the airbag cover is placed in a predetermined position on both the retainer and the instrument panel. It becomes possible to fix. Further, the co-fastening and fixing by the above-mentioned fixing device allows the relative movement of the cover and the retainer, so that only a plurality of mounting holes formed in the retainer and the airbag cover are aligned during the fixing work. Since it is not necessary to precisely position the airbag cover on both the instrument panel and the retainer as in the conventional case, the fixing work is easy and the fixing efficiency is improved. Further, since the airbag cover is directly fixed to the retainer, it is possible to ensure the stability of mounting the airbag cover to the retainer. Therefore, it is not necessary to employ a particularly strong and complicated fastening structure for the fastening portion of the airbag cover to the instrument panel.

When the inflator is actuated to generate gas, high-pressure gas flows into the inside of the air bag to rapidly inflate the air bag, and at the same time, the air bag cover is pressed in the deployment direction by the air bag expansion force. Tear along the thin-walled part to be torn and deploy. At this time, unlike the airbag cover in which one of the front and rear is fixed without play by the bolt as described above, the relative position between the cover and the retainer is set in both the front and rear mounting holes of the airbag cover and the retainer. Since it is fixed by co-clamping to allow the desired movement, the above-mentioned inconvenience does not occur, and the inflation force of the airbag can be effectively applied to the thin wall portion of the airbag cover to be torn. There is also no risk of delay in tearing at the same portion.

At least one of the cover mounting hole and the retainer mounting hole is preferably a long hole that is long in the airbag deployment direction. By making at least one of the attachment holes an elongated hole, the airbag cover is not pushed up along the elongated hole by the inflation pressure of the airbag and does not move in multiple directions, and the inflation pressure is the airbag. Of the air bag cover, that is, the air bag cover in the direction in which the air bag cover is deployed.

A preferred embodiment of the fixing device is a bolt in which a small-diameter screw portion and a large-diameter body portion are connected via a step portion, and the length of the large-diameter body portion is the same as that of the airbag cover. It is set to be slightly larger than the sum of the wall thickness of the wall and the wall thickness of the opening end of the retainer.

Further, the airbag module has a plurality of locked portions on at least the occupant side wall portion between the retainer mounting hole and the back surface of the airbag cover, and at least the occupant of the retainer. It is preferable that a locking portion that locks with the locked portion and that prevents the retainer fixed by the fixing device from being separated from the cover is provided at the opening end on the side. The locked portion can be arranged side by side in the airbag deployment direction with the retainer mounting hole,
Alternatively, the retainer mounting holes may be formed between adjacent retainer mounting holes and arranged in a zigzag pattern. When the airbag is inflated and deployed, the inflation force acts on the airbag cover, so the stress due to the inflation force concentrates in the retainer mounting hole of the airbag cover, but the locked portion is formed. If so, the stress can be dispersed also in the locked portion, and the strength of the retainer mounting hole in the wall portion where the locked portion is formed is improved.

A preferred aspect of the locked portion is a locking hole along the airbag deployment direction, the locking portion comprises a hook-shaped portion, and the retainer and the airbag cover are fixed by the fixing tool. When fixed, the hook-shaped portion is hooked and locked in the locking hole, and when the airbag is inflated, the hook-shaped portion and the fixing tool are supported by the locking hole and the retainer mounting hole, respectively. The locking portion is formed so as to project from a plate member having rigidity, the plate member is formed with an insertion hole for the fastener, and the plate member cooperates with a wall portion of the airbag cover and an opening end portion of the retainer. The retaining portion may be integrally formed on at least the rear upper end portion of the retainer.

The total volume of the wall portion of the airbag cover that is sandwiched by the locked portion and the retainer mounting hole, and the wall thickness of the airbag cover that is sandwiched by the retainer mounting hole and the edge of the wall portion. It is preferable to mold the airbag cover so that the sum of the total volume of the portions is 1.5 times or more of the total volume of the thin wall portion to be torn formed in the airbag cover. In that case, the strength of the portion of the wall portion where the retainer mounting hole is formed is sufficiently larger than the strength of the thin portion to be torn. Therefore, in the present airbag module in which the co-fastening and fixing by the fixing device as described above is performed by allowing the relative movement of the cover and the retainer, the front and rear walls of the airbag cover when the airbag is inflated. Even if stress due to pushing up of the airbag cover is concentrated in the mounting hole formed in either the front or rear wall portion, the airbag cover will be cracked at the site where the mounting hole is formed. Proper tearing is ensured in the thin portion to be torn without causing or breaking.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings based on typical examples. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an airbag module 1 showing a typical embodiment of the present invention. The airbag module 1 of the present invention includes an airbag 2, a cylindrical inflator 3, a retainer 4 that houses the airbag 2 and the inflator 3, and an airbag cover 5 that closes an upper opening of the retainer 4. It has. The airbag 2
Since the inflator 3 has a conventionally well-known structure, its detailed description is omitted here.

An instrument panel 7 has an opening 7a for accommodating the airbag module 1 and a rear end engaging portion of the airbag cover 5, and a front end engaging portion of the airbag cover 5. An engaging hole 7b for engaging is formed, and a bracket 6 is present in the opening 7a, and the retainer 4 of the airbag module 1 is inserted through the bracket 6 by a bolt or the like (not shown). Fixed to.

The retainer 4 is an open box body in which an airbag storage portion 4a for storing the airbag 2 and an inflator storage portion 4b for storing the inflator 3 are connected by bolts. A plurality of cover mounting holes 4e are formed in the front opening end 4c and the rear opening end 4d in the upper opening of the above.

The airbag cover 5 is provided with projecting claw pieces 5a constituting a plurality of engaging portions to the instrument panel 7 from the rear surface of the front and rear end edges, and from the position deviated rearward from the rear surface, A rectangular mounting wall 5b for the retainer 4 is projectingly provided, and a grid-like rib 5c is projectingly provided from the back surface between the claw piece 5a and the mounting wall 5b via a pin 5a '. A thin wall portion 5d to be torn is formed along the inside of the three wall portions of the mounting wall 5b except the front wall portion 5b-1.
A plurality of retainer mounting holes 5e are formed in the front wall portion 5b-1 and the rear wall portion 5b-2 of the mounting wall 5b at positions corresponding to the cover mounting holes 4e of the retainer 4. The retainer mounting hole 5e is formed as a long hole that is long in the deployment direction of the airbag 2. Therefore, even if an error occurs in the fixing position of the retainer 4 to the vehicle body, the mounting hole 5e eliminates the error. Absorbs the airbag cover 5 and retainer 4
It can be fixed to both the instrument panel 7 and the instrument panel 7. Further, the rear wall portion 5b-2 is formed with a plurality of locking holes 5f, which are locked portions, above the retainer mounting holes 5e.

In this airbag module 1, the airbag cover 5 is fixed to the retainer 4 which is first fixed to the vehicle body, and the claw piece 5 of the airbag cover 5 is fixed.
a is engaged with the opening 7a and the engagement hole 7b formed in the instrument panel 7, and is installed in the vehicle body. Hereinafter, a fixing structure of the airbag cover 5 and the retainer 4, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a fixed portion on the rear side of the airbag cover 5 and the retainer 4.

The retainer 4 is directly fixed to the retainer mounting hole 5e of the airbag cover 5 by the fastener 8 in the cover mounting hole 4e. Therefore, the fixing stability is good, and it is not necessary to make the structure for engaging the airbag cover 5 with the instrument panel 7 particularly strong.

The fastener 8 is a bolt in which a small-diameter screw portion 8a and a large-diameter body portion 8b are connected via a step portion 8c, and the large-diameter body portion 8b is substantially the same as the cover mounting hole 4e of the retainer 4. They are formed to have the same diameter, and their length is set to be slightly larger than the sum of the thickness of the rear wall portion 5b-2 of the airbag cover 5 and the thickness of the rear opening end portion 4d of the retainer 4. Has been done. By adopting a long hole for the retainer mounting hole 5e as described above and setting the length of the large-diameter body portion 8b of the bolt 8 as described above, the co-tightening and fixing by the fastener 8 is The cover 5 is allowed to move with respect to the retainer 4. Therefore, after the airbag cover 5 is fixed to the retainer 4 and the instrument panel 6, it is possible to perform a fine position adjustment, and it is possible to precisely adjust both the retainer 4 and the instrument panel 6 during the fixing work. Positioning is not required, and the sticking work is easy and work efficiency is improved.

However, the large-diameter body portion 8b of the bolt
When the movement of the cover 5 with respect to the retainer 4 is allowed by setting the length of the rear cover 5 as described above, the rear wall portion 5b-of the airbag cover 5 can be formed by simply tightening the bolt 8 with a nut. 2 becomes easy to incline. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the small-diameter screw portion 8a of the bolt 8 is provided with a rigid L-shaped cross-section plate member 9 in which a locking hole 9a having substantially the same diameter as the small-diameter screw portion 8a is formed. The bolt 8 is tightened with the nut 8 '. The plate material 9
Is fixed by being firmly sandwiched between the step portion 8c of the fastener 8 and the nut 8 ', so that the plate member 9 has a width in the vertical direction and the rear wall portion 5b-2 of the airbag cover 5 is fixed. It can be clamped in cooperation with the retainer 4,
The rear wall portion 5b-2 can be prevented from tilting.

Further, the plate member 9 has a plurality of hook-shaped engaging portions 9b at positions corresponding to the plurality of engaging holes 5f formed in the rear wall portion 5b-2 of the airbag cover 5. ing. The hook-shaped locking portion 9b is hooked and locked in the locking hole 5f when the retainer 4 and the airbag cover 5 are fixed by the fixing device 8, and when the airbag 2 is inflated. The hook-shaped portion 9b and the fastener 8 are formed so as to be supported by the locking hole 5f and the retainer mounting hole 5e, respectively. In the present embodiment, the locked portion and the locking portion of the present invention are the locking hole 5f and the hook-shaped locking portion 9b, but the invention is not limited to this shape. Can be used as a projection and the locking portion can be used as a hook that can be locked to the projection, and various modifications are possible. Further, the locking holes 5f are arranged side by side above the retainer mounting holes 5e, but it is sufficient if they are formed between the retainer mounting holes 5e and the back surface of the cover, and for example, the adjacent retainers. It can also be formed between the mounting holes 5e and arranged in a staggered manner.

Similar to the above-mentioned rear side fixing portion, the front side fixing portion is fixed together by the fixing tool 8 while allowing the cover 5 to move with respect to the retainer 4, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, since the fixing member 8 is replaced with the plate member 9 by a plate member 10 having an L-shaped cross section, and the front wall portion 5b-1 does not have a locked portion, the plate member 10 is also formed. It has no locking part.

In the airbag module 1 of the present invention, the plurality of locking holes 5f and the retainer mounting holes 5e formed in the rear wall portion 5b-2 of the airbag cover 5 are provided.
The sum of the total volume of the wall portion of the airbag cover that is sandwiched by and the total volume of the wall portion of the airbag cover that is sandwiched by the retainer mounting hole 5e and the edge of the rear wall portion 5b-2. The rear wall portion 5b-is formed by molding the airbag cover 5 so that the total volume of the thin wall portion 5d to be torn formed in the airbag cover is 1.5 times or more.
The strength of 2 is secured.

Now, when the inflator 3 is activated to generate gas, high-pressure gas flows into the inside of the airbag 2 and the airbag 2 expands rapidly, and at the same time, the airbag is expanded on the airbag cover 5. Expansion pressure acts in the direction.
At this time, since the airbag cover 5 is fixed together by allowing it to move with respect to the retainer 4, the entire airbag cover 5 is uniform, and the front and rear wall portions 5b-1 of the airbag cover 5 and It is pushed up along the retainer mounting hole 5e formed in 5b-2. Since the retainer mounting hole 5e is formed as a long hole that is long in the deployment direction of the airbag 2, the movement of the airbag cover 5 due to the inflation pressure is defined only by the retainer mounting hole 5e in the deployment direction of the airbag 2. Therefore, the airbag cover 5 does not move in multiple directions, and the inflating force effectively acts on the thin wall portion 5d to be torn, which is formed on the airbag cover 5, and causes the airbag cover 5 to move. The thin portion 5d is quickly torn.

Further, the air bag cover 5 is pushed up until the hook-shaped portion 9b and the fixing member 8 are supported by the locking hole 5f and the retainer mounting hole 5e, respectively, and the locking hole 5f and the retainer mounting hole are carried out. The stress associated with the pushing up acts on 5e. According to the airbag module 1 of the present invention, the rear wall portion 5b-2 of the airbag cover 5 is described.
In addition to the retainer mounting hole 5e, the locking hole 5f
However, since the stress is applied, concentration in the retainer mounting hole 5e is eliminated, cracking and damage of the airbag cover 5 in the retainer mounting hole 5e are prevented, and its strength is improved.

In the airbag cover 5, it cannot be denied that the strength of the portion of the front and rear wall portions 5b-1 and 5b-2 where the retainer mounting hole 5e is formed is weaker than other portions. . However, at least the rear wall portion 5b in which the thin portion 5d to be torn is formed inside
-2, the volume of the portion where the locking hole 5f and the retainer mounting hole 5e are formed is set in correlation with the volume of the thin portion 5d to be torn as described above, and the airbag cover 5 is formed. This ensures that the strength of the portion where the retainer mounting hole 5e is formed is at least sufficiently larger than the strength of the thin portion 5d to be torn. Therefore, in the airbag module 1 in which the relative movement of the cover and the retainer is allowed as described above, the front and rear wall portions 5b-1 and 5b-2 of the airbag cover 5 when the airbag 2 is inflated. Even when the stress is concentrated in the mounting hole 5e formed in either the front or rear wall portion, the crack in the mounting hole 5e having a larger strength in the airbag cover 5 causes complete damage. In addition to the above, it is possible to ensure rapid and proper tearing of the thin portion 5d to be torn, which has low strength.

As a modified example of the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the retaining portion of the present invention is a portion where the edge of the rear opening end 4d of the retainer 4 corresponds to the retaining hole 5f. May be bent backward and the hook portion 4f may be formed integrally with the retainer 4. In that case, the plate material 10 can be used instead of the plate material 9, and the number of parts is reduced.

In each of the above-described embodiments and modifications, only the rear wall portion 5b-2 of the airbag cover 5 is formed with the engagement hole 5f which is the engaged portion, and the rear wall portion 5b- is formed.
Although the second retainer mounting hole 5e is prevented from cracking or being damaged, the thin wall portion 5d to be torn is formed inside the rear wall portion 5b-2, which is more than the front wall portion 5b-1. This is because stress concentrates on the retainer mounting hole 5e of the rear wall portion 5b-2. In addition to adopting the locking hole 5f as described above, the retainer mounting hole 5e is reinforced by increasing the thickness of the rear wall portion 5b-2 as shown in FIG. 4 to crack the retainer mounting hole 5e. It is also possible to prevent damage. In this case, instead of the plate member 9, a plate member 10 having an L-shaped cross section without a hook portion can be used, and the number of parts is reduced. In FIG. 4, the plate member 10 is arranged so as to have an inverted L shape. This is because the edge of the plate member 10 is expanded when the airbag cover 5 is inflated outward by the inflation pressure of the airbag 2. This is to prevent the airbag cover 5 from being damaged by and to support the airbag cover 5.

Of course, the locked portion can be formed not only on the rear wall portion 5b-2 but also on the front wall portion 5b-1. In that case, the thin wall portion 5d to be torn is replaced with the front wall portion 5b-
1 and the rear wall portion 5b-2 can be formed in the center.

[0036]

As described above, in the airbag module of the present invention, at least one of the mounting holes formed in the retainer and the airbag cover is formed to have a diameter larger than the diameter of the insertion portion of the fastener. Along with the fixing holes, the fixing holes are fixed together by allowing the relative movement of the cover and the retainer by the fastener, so that even if an error occurs in attaching the retainer to the vehicle body, The above error is automatically absorbed when the airbag cover is fixed to the retainer, and complicated positioning of the airbag cover with respect to both the instrument panel and the retainer at the time of fixing work is unnecessary, and the fixing work efficiency is improved.

Further, at least the retainer of the retainer is attached to a plurality of locked portions formed on at least the occupant-side wall portion of the airbag cover between the retainer mounting hole and the back surface of the airbag cover. Since the locking portion formed at the opening end on the occupant side is locked, when the expansion force of the airbag acts on the airbag cover, the stress due to the expansion force causes the retainer mounting of the airbag cover. Dispersed in the holes and the locked portions, cracks and damages in the retainer mounting holes of the airbag cover are prevented.

Further, since the volume of the wall portion where the locked portion of the airbag cover and the retainer mounting hole are present is set in correlation with the volume of the thin portion to be torn, as described above, It is ensured that the retainer mounting hole has at least a strength sufficiently larger than that of the thin portion to be cleaved, and the airbag cover is not to be cracked or damaged in the mounting hole, and is to be cleaved. It is properly torn at the thin portion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an airbag module that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a fixing structure of an airbag cover and a retainer in the airbag module of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the fixing structure of the airbag cover and the retainer in the airbag module of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another modified example of the fixing structure of the airbag cover and the retainer in the airbag module of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Airbag Module 2 Airbag 3 Inflator 4 Retainer 4a Airbag Storage 4b Inflator Storage 4c Front Open End 4d Rear Open End 4e Cover Attachment Hole 4f Hook 5 Airbag Cover 5a Claw 5a 'Pin 5b Attachment Wall 5b-1 Front wall portion 5b-2 Rear wall portion 5c Rib 5d Expected thin wall portion 5e Retainer mounting hole 5f Locking hole 6 Bracket 7 Instrument panel 7a Opening 7b Fastening hole 8 Fastener 8a Small diameter screw portion 8b Large Diameter body 8c Stepped portion 8'Nut 9 Plate material 9a Locking hole 9b Hook-shaped locking part 10 Plate material

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A retainer for accommodating an airbag and an inflator, the retainer having a plurality of cover mounting holes at the front windshield-side and occupant-side ends of its opening.
An airbag cover having a plurality of retainer mounting holes at positions corresponding to the cover mounting holes on the front windshield side and the occupant side wall projecting from the rear surface, and the retainer and the airbag cover are In an airbag module in which a fixing tool is inserted into the cover mounting hole and the retainer mounting hole and fixed together, at least one of the mounting holes formed in the retainer and the airbag cover is an insertion portion of the fixing tool. An airbag module, which is formed to have a larger diameter than the diameter, and is fixed together by the fixing device by allowing the cover and the retainer to move relative to each other. 2. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the cover mounting hole and the retainer mounting hole is a long hole that is long in the airbag deployment direction. 3. The fastener is a bolt formed by connecting a small-diameter screw portion and a large-diameter body portion via a step portion, and the length of the large-diameter body portion is the same as that of the wall portion of the airbag cover. The airbag module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thickness is set to be slightly larger than the sum of the wall thickness and the wall thickness of the open end of the retainer. 4. A plurality of locked portions are provided on at least the occupant side wall portion between the retainer mounting hole and the back surface of the airbag cover, and at least the occupant side opening end portion of the retainer is provided. The airbag module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a locking portion that locks the locked portion and prevents the retainer and the cover fixed by the fixing tool from being separated from each other. 5. The locked portion is a locking hole along the airbag deployment direction, and the locking portion is a hook-shaped portion,
When the retainer and the airbag cover are fixed by the fixing device, the hook-shaped part is hooked and locked in the locking hole, and when the airbag is inflated, the hook-shaped part and the fixing device are respectively locked by the locking hole. The airbag module according to claim 4, wherein the airbag module is supported by the retainer mounting hole. 6. A retainer mounting hole is disposed so that a rigid plate member having an insertion hole for the fastener is formed so as to sandwich the wall portion of the airbag cover in cooperation with the opening end portion of the retainer. A plurality of locked portions are provided at least at the occupant side opening end between the airbag cover and the back surface of the airbag cover, and the plate material is locked to the locked portions and fixed by the fastener. The airbag module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a locking portion that prevents the retainer and the cover from being separated from each other. 7. The airbag module according to claim 4, wherein the locking portion is formed integrally with at least a rear upper end portion of the retainer. 8. The total volume of the wall portion of the airbag cover sandwiched between the locked portion and the retainer mounting hole, and the airbag cover sandwiched between the retainer mounting hole and the edge of the wall portion. The airbag module according to claim 4, wherein the sum of the total volume of the wall portion and the wall portion is 1.5 times or more the total volume of the thin portion to be cleaved formed in the airbag cover.